TDD receiver protection

ABSTRACT

A receiver protection circuit in a time-division duplex (TDD) system is disclosed, which comprises a first diode with an anode coupled to an input of a low-noise-amplifier (LNA) and a cathode coupled to a ground (GND), a controller coupled to the anode of the diode and configured to generate a first control signal for turning on the diode when the TDD system is in a transmission mode, and a load coupled to the diode, wherein a reflected transmit signal is shorted to the GND by the diode and the radio frequency (RF) energy carried in the reflected transmit signal is consumed by the load.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. 60/782,745, which was filed on Mar. 15, 2006.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to time division duplex (TDD) communication systems, and more particularly to receiver protection in the TDD transceivers.

TDD is a process of allowing two way communications between two devices by time sharing. When using TDD, one device (device A) transmits, then the other device (device B) listens for a short period of time. After the transmission is complete, the devices reverse their roles, i.e., device A becomes a receiver and device B becomes a transmitter. The process continually repeats itself, so that data appears to flow in both directions simultaneously.

A circulator is usually used to switch connections of either the transmitter or receiver to a common antenna. A circulator passes a transmit signal to the antenna with low attenuation, but will not pass the transmit signal to the receiver. A limitation to using a circulator in a TDD system is that any transmit power reflected by the antenna, i.e., not absorbed by the antenna, may be conducted back to the receiver. This may damage the receiver. The receiver, in turn, must therefore increase power handling capability.

Therefore, what is desired is a protection circuit for the TDD receiver.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, the present invention discloses a receiver protection circuit in a time-division duplex (TDD) system which comprises a first diode with an anode coupled to an input of a low-noise-amplifier (LNA) and a cathode coupled to a ground (GND), a controller coupled to the anode of the diode and configured to generate a first control signal for turning on the diode when the TDD system is in a transmission mode, and a load coupled to the diode, wherein a reflected transmit signal is shorted to the GND by the diode and the radio frequency (RF) energy carried in the reflected transmit signal is consumed by the load.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a TDD receiver with protection circuits according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

The following will provide a detailed description of a protection circuit for a time division duplex (TDD) receiver.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a TDD receiver 120 having protection circuits according to one embodiment of the present invention. The TDD receiver 120 is part of a TDD transceiver 100, which also includes a TDD transmitter (not shown entirely). Shown in FIG. 1 is a power amplifier (PA) 110 belonging to the TDD transmitter, which amplifies transmit signals to an antenna 114 through a circulator 116 when the transmitter is turned on. Radio frequency (RF) energy goes through the circulator 116 to the antenna 114. Some of the RF energy will reflect back from the antenna 114 to the circulator 116, and then into the receiver 120.

The receiver 120 comprises a high-pass filter 132, a first hybrid coupler 134, a balanced pair of low-noise-amplifier (LNA) 136[0:1] and a second hybrid coupler 138. A received signal or a reflected transmit signal passes through the circulator 116, the high-pass filter 132 to the hybrid coupler 134, from where the signal is split into two balanced signals, one is fed into the LNA 136[0] and the other into the LNA 136[1]. The hybrid coupler 134 may be implemented as having 3 dB attenuation and a 90° phase shift.

The reflected transmit signal normally carries large amount of energy due to its proximity to the PA 110. The LNA either 136[0] or 136[1] may be burned if the signal level of the balanced signal is too high. Then the present invention proposes adding p-type, intrinsic, n-type (PIN) diodes 140[0:1] between the inputs of LNAs 136[0:1] and a ground (GND). PIN diode 140[0] for the LNA 136[0], and PIN diode 140[1] for the LNA 136[1]. An anode of the PIN diode 140[0] is coupled to an input of the LNA 136[0]. A cathode of the PIN diode 140[0] is coupled to the GND. Similarly, an anode of the PIN diode 140[1] is coupled to an input of the LNA 136[1]. A cathode of the PIN diode 140[1] is coupled to the GND.

Two TDD control units 142[0:1] along with two RF chokes 144[0:1] are also added. When the transmitter is turned on, the TDD control 142[0] generates a logic HIGH signal, which turns on the PIN diode 140[0], therefore, a ¼ wavelength of the reflected signal feeding toward the LNA 136[0] will be shorted to the GND. At the same time, the TDD control 142[1] also generates a logic HIGH signal, which turns on the PIN diode 140[1], which shorts a ¼ wavelength of the reflected signal feeding toward the LNA 136[1] to the GND. Most RF energy is carried in the ¼ wavelength. Here the RF chokes 144[0:1] filter out RF signals going into the TDD control 142[0:1], respectively.

Although the two TDD controllers 142[0:1] are used according to the embodiment of the present invention, one having skills in the art would realize that a single TDD control can turn on both the PIN diodes 140[0:1] at the same time by coupling an output of the single TDD control to both PIN diodes 140[0:1]. It is also understood by one having skills in the art that not only PIN diodes can serve the purpose of shorting the reflected signals to the GND, other diodes, such as metal-on-semiconductor (MOS) diodes can be used as well.

Referring to FIG. 1, a resistive load 146 is coupled to the hybrid coupler 134. After the reflected RF signals being shorted to the GND, RF energy in the reflected RF signals will be reflected back through the hybrid coupler 134 and consumed by the resistive load 146. With the RF energy from the reflected transit signal consumed by the resistive load 146, the LNA 136[0:1] of the TDD receiver may be effectively protected.

Although the resistive load 146 is a convenient and inexpensive solution to consume the reflected RF energy, one having skills in the art would be able to construct other kind of load, such as capacitive, to consume the reflected energy.

The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A receiver protection circuit in a time-division duplex (TDD) system, the receiver protection circuit comprising: a first diode with an anode coupled to an input of a first low-noise-amplifier (LNA) and a cathode coupled to a ground (GND); a first controller coupled to the anode of the first diode and configured to generate a first control signal for turning on the first diode when the TDD system is in a transmission mode; and a load coupled to the diode, wherein a reflected transmit signal is shorted to the GND by the diode and the radio frequency (RF) energy carried in the reflected transmit signal is consumed by the load.
 2. The receiver protection circuit of claim 1, wherein the first diode is a p-type, intrinsic, n-type (PIN) diode.
 3. The receiver protection circuit of claim 1, wherein the load is a resistive load.
 4. The receiver protection circuit of claim 1 further comprising a RF choke coupled on a conduction path that carries the first control signal.
 5. The receiver protection circuit of claim 1 further comprising a hybrid coupler coupled between a circulator and the first LNA.
 6. The receiver protection circuit of claim 5, wherein the hybrid coupler has a 3 dB attenuation and 90° phase shift.
 7. The receiver protection circuit of claim 5 further comprising: a second LNA coupled to the hybrid coupler in balance with the first LNA; a second diode coupled to an input of the second LNA, wherein the second diode is also turned on during the transmission mode by a second control signal.
 8. The receiver protection circuit of claim 7, wherein the second control signal is generated either by a second controller or the first controller.
 9. A receiver protection circuit in a time-division duplex (TDD) system, the receiver protection circuit comprising: a first diode with an anode coupled to an input of a first low-noise-amplifier (LNA) and a cathode coupled to a ground (GND); a first controller coupled to the anode of the first diode and configured to generate a first control signal for turning on the first diode when the TDD system is in a transmission mode; a hybrid coupler coupled between a circulator and the first LNA; and a load coupled to the diode through the hybrid couple, wherein a reflected transmit signal is shorted to the GND by the diode and the radio frequency (RF) energy carried in the reflected transmit signal is consumed by the load.
 10. The receiver protection circuit of claim 9, wherein the first diode is a p-type, intrinsic, n-type (PIN) diode.
 11. The receiver protection circuit of claim 9, wherein the load is a resistive load.
 12. The receiver protection circuit of claim 9, wherein the hybrid coupler has a 3 dB attenuation and 90° phase shift.
 13. The receiver protection circuit of claim 9 further comprising a RF choke coupled on a conduction path that carries the first control signal.
 14. The receiver protection circuit of claim 9 further comprising a second LNA coupled to the hybrid coupler in balance with the first LNA; a second diode coupled to an input of the second LNA, wherein the second diode is also turned on during the transmission mode by a second control signal.
 15. The receiver protection circuit of claim 14, wherein the second control signal is generated either by a second controller or the first controller.
 16. A receiver protection circuit in a time-division duplex (TDD) system, the receiver protection circuit comprising: a hybrid coupler receiving one or more signals from a circulator; a first and second low-noise-amplifiers (LNA) balanced to each other both coupled to the hybrid coupler; a first diode with an anode coupled to an input of the first LNA and a cathode coupled to a ground (GND); a second diode with anode coupled to an input of the second LNA and a cathode coupled to the GND; at least one controller coupled to the anodes of both the first and second diodes and configured to generate a control signal for turning on both the first and second diodes when the TDD system is in a transmission mode; and a load coupled to the hybrid coupler, wherein a reflected transmit signal is shorted to the GND by the first and second diodes and the radio frequency (RF) energy carried in the reflected transmit signal is consumed by the load.
 17. The receiver protection circuit of claim 16, wherein both the first and second diodes are p-type, intrinsic, n-type (PIN) diodes.
 18. The receiver protection circuit of claim 16, wherein the load is a resistive load.
 19. The receiver protection circuit of claim 16 further comprising a RF choke coupled on a conduction path that carries the first control signal.
 20. The receiver protection circuit of claim 16, wherein the hybrid coupler has a 3 dB attenuation and 90° phase shift. 